Most of us would like larger families: poll

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Australians overwhelmingly believe that two or three children
are the ideal number for a family, despite the fact that many women
now go through life having just one or none.

A Morgan poll this month found that only 3 per cent of
Australians think it is best for families to have just one child or
go without children.

The poll found 48 per cent - a narrow majority of those who
offered an opinion - propose two children as the ideal number for a
family.

But almost half of those expressing a view opt for larger
families. While 10 per cent of those surveyed declined to express
an opinion, 30 per cent said three children were the ideal number
for a family, and 9 per cent proposed four or more.

Australian women on average now bear just 1.75 children over
their lifetimes. The poll suggest this is far short of the number
they think is ideal.

The poll did not ask people how many children they would like to
have. Pollster Gary Morgan said it was striking that the highest
non-response rate from any group was from women in the prime child-
bearing ages from 25 to 49, of whom 17 per cent expressed no view
about the ideal family size.

Coming on the heels of Wednesday's figures showing that
fertility rates in 2003-04 rebounded to the highest level for nine
years, the poll findings cast more doubt on government assumptions
that women in future will average just 1.6 children each.

If women have more children in future, or even maintain families
at the same size as now, it would swell the future workforce and
reduce the impact of an ageing population.

One mother who has chosen to have at least three is actor Lisa
McCune, who has announced she is expecting her third child in the
middle of next year.

The four-time gold Logie winner and her film technician husband,
Tim Disney, have two sons, Archer, 3, and Oliver, 15 months.